India’s Worst Train Disaster in 20 Years: In Pictures

In eastern India, rescuers are working tirelessly to save survivors from a train collision that has resulted in over 230 deaths. The incident occurred in Balasore district, Odisha, and left around 900 people injured. The cause of the crash is still under investigation. This is one of the deadliest train crashes in India in the last 20 years, with hundreds of people trapped inside more than a dozen mangled rail cars overnight. Rescuers have been using cutting torches to break open doors and windows to free survivors. Sudhanshu Sarangi, director of Odisha’s fire department, said that it was unlikely that anyone still alive would be stuck underneath the debris. Dozens of bodies, covered by white sheets, lay on the ground near the train tracks as locals and rescuers raced to help survivors. The search operation continues, with fears that the death toll may rise further. Saturday was declared a day of mourning in Odisha as the state’s chief minister, Naveen Patnaik, visited the district to meet injured passengers.